KNOXVILLE, TN — Texas State volleyball improves to 2-1 on the year after sweeping UT Martin in the final day of the Tennessee Classic. The Bobcats now have two three-set wins on the season heading into next week's home opener.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The match started off evenly with both sides matching each other for points until a kill by Sophie Childs tied things up at 10-10. From there, the Bobcats went on a 5-1 scoring run to give themselves an edge as they fought for a 25-22 set win. Set one was highlighted by seven kills from Childs as she hit .417 (7-2-12) to help solidify the set win for the Bobcats.

Texas State battled in set two early on to help find a lead late to seal the set. After UT Martin returned from a 14-10 deficit to tie things 14014, the Bobcats pushed things to another gear and hit its stride. Three straight kills by Maggie Walsh, KJ Johnson and Samantha Wunsch forced UT Martin to take a timeout, but that didn't stop the Bobcats. After taking a 17-15 lead, the Bobcats finished the set on an 8-4 run to secure set two.

Set three saw the Texas State getting out to a hot start and finding its rhythm. After going on a 13-3 run from the start to give them a comfortable lead, it was eight kills from Johnson that led the Bobcats to a set three and match win. Johnson hit above .300 at .375 in set two, a streak she kept through seven of the nine sets played this weekend.

MATCH NOTES

• The Bobcats are 2-1 on the season after the opening weekend with this win over UT Martin and Friday morning's win over Marist College.
• Sophie Childs hit .391 (12-3-23) against UT Martin, the second highest of any Bobcat and her best showing so far. 
• KJ Johnson led the Bobcats hitting .372 (20-4-43) as she led the Bobcats in points as well with 21.0. 
• Head coach Sean Huiet sits at 77 career wins, with a 77-29 record in his four-year tenure.
• Sophomore Bailey Hanner had a standout weekend, hitting .367 (16-5-30) over the Bobcats three games, paired with 3.0 blocks and three aces.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – KJ Johnson (20)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (42)
• Service Aces –Bailey Hanner (2)
• Blocks – Sophie Childs, Ryann Torres, Bailey Hanner (1)
• Digs – Ryann Torres (15)

SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 25, UT Martin 22
• 2nd | Texas State 25, UT Martin 19
• 3rd | Texas State 25, UT Martin 17

UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will return home and host the TXST Invitational where they'll host North Texas and #19 Houston. The team's home opener will be Aug. 31 against North Texas at 6:30 p.m. inside Strahan Arena.
 
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